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strong willed, stubborn 4 year old..

tee wrote:

Jun-21 11:12 PMPost #1From: tee_My daughter is one beautiful and smart 4 year old. She can be the most sweetest kid on the world yet she refuses to listen to anyone. She just started acting like this a few months ago. And when me or her Dad try to tell her to do something she cries this loud and annoying cry. One day she cried for an hour. Spanking her doesn't work, time outs doesn't work, and taking her favorite things from her doesn't work either. It's so frustrating. It's like dealing with a teenager in a 4 year olds body.

I'm going through the same thing with my 3.5 year old son. He is so smart, he manipulates everyone into doing what he wants or tries to negotiate with me & DH and if that doesn't work he screams at the top of his lungs. Timeouts used to work but now he screams whenever I try to put him in time out. I spanked him 2 times and he basically laughed at me. I take things away and he will watch me saying something like I don't like that you anyway (even when it's his favorite toy). I always thank him when he is being a good listener or reward him for doing the right thing. Is there anything else I can try?

I have the same problem with my 4 yr old dd. I am really at a loss at times, how did my sweet girl develop such an attitude. All my friends say is make a discipline plan and stick with it. Be consistent and dont let her get away with anything or you will have her thinking she can get what she wants! All that is so much easier said than done!

Our 3.5 year old is the same way. it doesnt help when grandparents give her whatever she wants. she can be so loving to her little brother then shove him in the same moment. She is really smart like arguing with an adult. i have never sounded more like my mother. im hoping its just a phase.

@ Mrslondono - My 3-yr old son is the same exact way!! Add physically strong to the above list too. It really is exhausting and I feel like I'm failing as a parent a lot of times. I don't do spanking but he laughs during his time outs like they're some kind of game and, when he realizes they're not, he screams ear-piercing, blood-curdling, deafening screams!

I have a 4 year old little boy. I don't know if my advice will work, because I'm not sure if my parenting "skills" have anything to do with it, I think I was just blessed. But, rather punish him for the way he's "acting" I punish him because of the way he makes ME feel. I Try to show him that the way he acts, effects those around him, and it is unacceptable for him to act like that and hurt my feelings. He seems to care that he effects me more than anything else... I say things like "why would you act that way? you know how much that hurts me when you do. I don't act like that with you, so why would you treat me like that?" I act really hurt, and have occasionally whipped out fake tears. I know that it seems manipulative, but it works for me. I have no issues with listening, behavior, or anything. I hope this helps, but as I said, idk if it has anything to do with parenting, or if I was just blessed with an amazing child...

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aheasley

My 4 year old is similar. I think it's a stage that most kids go through. She whines and argues, those are our biggest problems. What works some for us is if she whines, she goes to her room and isn't allowed to come out until she stops whining. We do a sad choices chair as well, she has to sit quietly until her timer goes off. If she talks or whines, the timer starts over.

My 4yr old is the same way. She's 4 going on 15! Lol. I ignore the whiny cry... Tell her she needs to talk in her strong voice so that I can hear her. Sometimes I'll tell her to go upstairs until she can be polite and respectful. Serious attitude!

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